Josetta Caudill (TRIMEDX), Ellis Coleman (TRIMEDX), Jerry Maddox (Medxcel), and Tim Reitz (TRIMEDX) flew to Lusaka, Zambia, in February to support Beit-CURE Hospital of Zambia as the TRIMEDX Foundation’s second volunteer team of 2025. Together the team tackled facility evaluations, biomed training, and hospital patient flow but also developed closer relationships with the staff and their mission having opportunities to join staff at the on-site chapel and ward fellowship sessions (see video below).
Beit-CURE Children’s Hospital of Zambia performs over 3,000 life-changing reconstructive, orthopedic, ENT, and audiological surgeries each year for children suffering from treatable diseases. The hospital specializes in surgeries treating bowed legs, burn contractures, cleft lips and palates, and more.
The TRIMEDX Foundation volunteer teams work with hospital staff to assess medical equipment and facilities conditions, create maintenance plans, and tackle immediate needs while creating action plans for returning volunteer teams providing continuity of care. Recently, the TRIMEDX Foundation has expanded its support services to include hospital administrative support, improving patient flow and quality of care.
Facilities Team leader Jerry evaluated the septic system, solar system, water treatment system, and electrical panels in addition to troubleshooting the hospital’s backup generator and restoring functionality to the casting oven and air compressor. Jerry worked alongside Beit-Cure Hospital of Zambia facilities team member Kangwa and learned valuable information pertaining to the hospital’s solar power system, the facility’s primary power source. Together, they identified the need for a new part to ensure the hospital’s backup generator operates with full functionality and provides reliable power when necessary.
Biomed Team volunteers Ellis and Tim trained hospital staff to service Midmark autoclaves and calibrate C-arms to support smooth surgical operations. They evaluated a defective autoclave unit and were able to successfully troubleshoot the machine and return it to full functionality.
Josetta worked alongside administrative staff to identify hospital workflows, observe patient flow, and outline opportunities to support patient-caregiver interactions. In providing a collaborative site visit summary with core stakeholders, her documentation ensures the work can continue remote, virtual assistance and future team visits to develop an effective electronic medical record for the hospital.
The TRIMEDX Foundation sends volunteers to Beit-CURE Children’s Hospital of Zambia annually. Volunteers return stateside not only with a sense of accomplishment for their work, but a greater connection to the staff’s dedication to providing holistic care to all who walk through the hospital’s gate.
Call to service
The TRIMEDX Foundation has sent 14 volunteers on 5 medical mission trips during the first quarter of 2025, contributing 350 hours of service. If you are interested in volunteering for the TRIMEDX Foundation, fill out a volunteer application or contact us at 317-275-1558 or by email. If your organization has medical equipment, or you would like to support our global health mission, email TRIMEDX Foundation Director Audra Plopper or call 317-275-1555.
The TRIMEDX Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ingenuity, integrity, collaboration, and dignity. We support medical equipment and facility maintenance and repair in underserved communities by developing sustainable and equitable partnerships through innovation, education, and engagement. For more information on volunteer opportunities, please visit our website, www.trimedxfoundation.org